Photo: Ana Endara/STRI. Retrieved from smithsonianmag.com
They voiced concerns over the disparity in expectations regarding mangrove forest conservation across the archipelago. Despite being prohibited from felling any mangrove trees which they rely upon for cooking fuel, they witness a stark contrast in treatment, as foreigners acquiring land in Bocas del Toro clear mangroves on their properties apparently with impunity. Additionally, they lamented the seeming decline in biodiversity, citing the disappearance of once-plentiful species such as the sardine from the mangroves and the diminishing size of traditionally relied-upon species like lobster.
Ultimately, they found themselves grappling with a sense of powerlessness when it came to safeguarding their resources. This stemmed from the belief that they lacked the necessary authority to prevent others from over-exploiting them.
“We could call their attention a thousand times, but their response will always be that the ocean is free,” one of them said. “We could be protecting our resources, but then someone else comes to destroy what we are protecting.”
Over the next few days, we visited three other island communities—Bahía Honda, Salt Creek, and Isla Tigre—to meet with their residents. They shared a common concern: the exploitation of natural resources by outsiders, resources they depend on for subsistence or economic activities such as tourism. These resources include mangroves, coral reefs, dolphins, endangered marine species, and even their marine protein sources.
“There are very good laws, but they’re not being enforced,” said a Bahia Honda resident. “We witness it when we see them building a house over the reefs.”